New Delhi: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Friday said the global strategic landscape had become increasingly fragmented and contested, with conflicts raging in Europe and West Asia, supply chains being weaponised and critical technologies emerging as instruments of leverage.
Addressing VISV-2026 (VISV-2026: Vision, Innovation, Synergy, Values) organised by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in collaboration with the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS) at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi, Misri highlighted the changing geopolitical environment and the growing challenges to global security.
Union Minister of State for Defence, Sanjay Seth, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri attended the event, themed 'Showcasing Defence Capabilities, Strengthening Global Partnerships'.
“It gives me great pleasure to join you today at the DRDO's first outreach programme for foreign defence attaches. I, too, commend the Ministry of Defence and DRDO for this initiative,” Misri said.
VIDEO | Delhi: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri says, "India is no longer just a consumer of global security technologies and defence products, but a creator, innovator, reliable manufacturer and trusted partner. Driven by the Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives, we… pic.twitter.com/kZLPvCF0NF
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 30, 2026
VIDEO | Delhi: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri at DRDO's first outreach programme for foreign defence attachés, says, "The global strategic landscape is increasingly fragmented and contested, with conflicts, weaponised supply chains, terrorism and competition over critical… pic.twitter.com/A45fuqovoC
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 30, 2026
Referring to the foreign defence attaches representing several friendly countries, he said they were soldiers, sailors and airmen who had, for some time, also assumed the role of diplomats.
“Your ability to read signals and build personal and institutional trust with your Indian counterparts matters as much as anything that your other colleagues in your respective missions do,” he said.
Misri expressed hope that initiatives such as VISV-2026 would broaden understanding of the evolving geopolitical environment and help countries identify opportunities for mutual benefit.
Describing the current international situation as a defining geopolitical inflection point, he said the strategic landscape was more fragmented and contested than at any point in recent memory.
Delhi: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri says, "These modern vulnerabilities are further aggravated by the rise of sophisticated disinformation campaigns energized by the anonymity of cyberspace and the disruptive power of artificial intelligence. In such a world, no nation can rely… https://t.co/WujWFzDmFX pic.twitter.com/QiVY6AqCi9
— IANS (@ians_india) October 30, 2026
Delhi: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri says, "... We gather at a defining geopolitical inflection point. The strategic landscape around us is more fragmented and contested than at any point in time in recent memory. Conflicts rage in Europe and West Asia, supply chains have been… https://t.co/WujWFzDmFX pic.twitter.com/4OIVhil6Kw
— IANS (@ians_india) October 30, 2026
“Conflicts rage in Europe and West Asia. Supply chains have been weaponised. Critical technologies have become instruments of leverage,” the Foreign Secretary said.
He also pointed to the expansion of military competition into space and the deep seas, observing that these developments were outpacing not only existing international law and policy frameworks but also diplomacy itself.
“Terrorism still threatens societies and some states still treat it as an instrument of state policy,” he said, adding that the global commons, including the seas, cyberspace and outer space, were under growing stress.
Misri further highlighted how climate instability was pushing resource scarcity towards a crisis point, underlining the need for greater international understanding and cooperation amid emerging security challenges.
VIDEO | Delhi: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri says, "Our newly released RAKSHA framework outlines a roadmap for global partnerships over the next decade, focusing on strategic partnerships, capacity building, indigenous exports and maritime security. India's vision of SAGAR has… pic.twitter.com/F35fSFtY9q
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 30, 2026
On Defence Diplomacy
Misri on defence diplomacy said, "We must build resilience, and we must build partnerships, and that is how India approaches defence diplomacy. Now, you must have heard that our foreign policy rests on strategic autonomy, the freedom to decide in our own interest guided by our own assessment."
VISV-2026, which stands for Vision, Innovation, Synergy and Values, is DRDO's outreach initiative aimed at showcasing India's indigenous defence technology capabilities and strengthening engagement with friendly partner nations.
The event brings together representatives from the defence establishment, industry, academia and the diplomatic community to familiarise international partners with India's progress in defence research, development and production, while exploring opportunities for technology-led cooperation and strategic partnerships.
Bhutan Glacial Lake Outburst Triggers Flash Flood Alerts In West Bengal, AssamThe deliberations are highlighting India's efforts to strengthen indigenous defence capabilities and expand international partnerships through technological innovation, defence production and defence diplomacy.
Through VISV-2026, DRDO aims to advance technological self-reliance while deepening international defence partnerships through innovation, dialogue and cooperation.
(Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)